Uncertainty Looms as Petition Challenging Joel Ssenyonyi’s MP Candidature Ripens

Uncertainty continues to surround the parliamentary status of Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi following a petition challenging his nomination over alleged irregularities related to the constituency he contested.

The petition, filed by Ivan Bwowe, a lawyer representing the People’s Freedom Front (PFF) party, accuses Ssenyonyi and other candidates of wrongly applying to contest for a constituency that is alleged to be non-existent under Uganda’s current electoral framework.

Bwowe argues that the constituency in question was not properly gazetted, rendering the nominations invalid.

The Electoral Commission (EC) had earlier upheld Ssenyonyi’s nomination and cleared him and other candidates to participate in the race. However, the matter was later taken to the High Court, where a ruling is still pending and expected to released before the end of this week.

Our credible insider indicate that the decision may not favour the Leader of the Opposition, potentially opening the door to disqualification should the court uphold the petitioner’s claims.

The petition follows a recent legal precedent in the Makindye Division mayoral race, where NRM’s Yasin Omari was declared unopposed after the disqualification of all his challengers for breaching electoral rules. In that case, courts ruled that the affected candidates had failed to meet key nomination requirements.

Analysts say the Makindye outcome could weigh heavily on the High Court’s consideration of the Ssenyonyi petition, especially on matters concerning constituency legality and procedural compliance.

The developments come at a time when Parliament already has close to ten lawmakers who have been declared unopposed and are awaiting swearing-in when the 11th Parliament convenes in May.

Should Bwowe succeed in the current petition, he would become the first opposition lawmaker to enter the August House unopposed, an outcome that would be unprecedented in Uganda’s multiparty political landscape.

Ssenyonyi and his legal team had not issued an official statement by press time. Opposition figures, however, have previously described the petition as politically motivated and aimed at weakening opposition leadership through court processes rather than the ballot.

The High Court is expected to issue its ruling in the coming days. The decision is likely to have significant implications not only for Ssenyonyi’s political future but also for the conduct of electoral nominations and constituency demarcation ahead of future elections.